Jonah’s Blog

The future of fillers

Here’s an article I wrote for Medium about how much fillers have changed since I brought Restylane to market in 2003 — and that is a benefit to physicians and consumers alike.

Jonah Shacknai speaks at a conference.

It seems difficult to imagine in today’s filler-filled day and age that there was ever a time when you couldn’t have your lips plumped or your marionette lines smoothed at your dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office or even local med spa. (Note: You should always see a licensed practitioner.) But if you were to visit your doctor in the 1980s, 90s, or very early aughts requesting more fullness in your lips or face, the only dermal filler option available would have been one made from bovine collagen, which was problematic for several reasons. Firstly, many people are allergic to the ingredient, which meant that a skin test and the four weeks required to see if you had an adverse-reaction were prerequisites to injection. Bovine collagen is also animal-derived, which many people object to for religious or ethical reasons, not to mention that its results tend to disappear rather quickly.
Read more here

The State of Massachusetts just filed a suit against Juul Labs.

Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said Juul targeted a generation of young people who otherwise never would have started using tobacco products.

“This company figured out how to deliver nicotine more intensely, more rapidly, more deceptively to our young people than any company has ever done in history,” Myers said.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/massachusetts-sues-juul-cigarette-marketing-tactics-68940684

A tribute to Dr. Fredric Brandt

“He was generous in sharing his insights with other people, and I think it shaped the current aesthetic,” said Jonah Shacknai, the former CEO of Medicis, which distributed Restalyne. “I think he fundamentally didn’t see that as threatening, because he didn’t imagine anyone could do it as well as he could.” 

https://gen.medium.com/the-baron-of-botox-is-gone-but-his-face-lives-on-b3906c6e78f5

Let’s ban flavored vape products

TurnTo10 reports on a debate in Rhode Island about banning all flavored vaping products.

“This policy isn’t focused on making current vapers quit. It’s about trying to prevent this epidemic of youth initiation with e-cigarettes,” said Kevin O’Flaherty, with Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

https://turnto10.com/news/local/ridoh-holds-public-hearing-on-permanent-ban-of-flavored-vape-products

The Hill: Outrage at limited vaping ban

“Kids using mint before will use menthol tomorrow,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Decades of experience with menthol cigarettes demonstrate that menthol appeals to kids … there is no public health justification for allowing continued sales of menthol e-cigarettes.”

Federal ban on selling tobacco to kids

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is pleased that the FDA has raised the age for children to purchase tobacco products.

USA Today reports that:

The FDA website now reads: “It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product – including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes – to anyone under 21.” The FDA website states that the website was updated Dec. 20.

Nineteen states

As of December, 19 states have raised the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21, according to the nonprofit Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Washington, DC, and more than 500 cities and towns also have raised the age.

Says Fox31.